Cranston Public Library Offers a Fresh Start to School-Aged Children Across the City

CRANSTON, RI — Every Cranston school child should have a library card, according to the Mayor. His office has teamed up with the public schools administration and the Cranston library to help put a card in every youngster's hand. Here is the press release explaining the 'Fresh Start' program.

This school year, the Cranston Public Library, the Cranston Public School Department, and the Mayor's Office have teamed up to make sure that every student in Cranston has a working library card with the “Fresh Start” initiative.

Mayor Allan W. Fung, Library Director Ed Garcia, and Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse accepted the Leaders Library Card Challenge, launched by President Obama in 2015, and the resulting program, Fresh Start, will begin September 2017.

“Our goal is to eliminate some of the barriers young people encounter when using the library,” explained Library Director, Ed Garcia.

Issues like resolving fines, replacing lost or expired cards, or even signing up for a library card for the first time, require trips to the library. Fresh Start removes this complication by allowing parents and students to simply fill out a form and submit it to their school librarian to get what they need.

“Once you have a library card, you can ask homework questions on Tutor.com, come to the library to research and print your assignments, and check out a book at midnight if you need to, using the eZone,” said Cranston Public Library’s Youth Services Coordinator, Emily Brown.

Fresh Start forms can be used for any of the following purposes:

• issue a new library card
• waive fines* (*The “waive fines” option on Fresh Start forms does not apply to billed or lost items unless the item is returned.)
• update contact information
• reset PIN
• Replace a lost library card

Public school librarians will make forms available at Open House. Homeschooled and private school students can download a form from the Cranston Public Library website and return it directly to the library with proof of address. All students between the ages of 5 and 18 are invited to participate.

“I’m very pleased that our library is giving every child in Cranston with a library card balance a chance to start the year off with a clean slate,” commented Mayor Allan W. Fung.

“Our nationally-recognized library system is a critical public resource and I’m proud that no child in Cranston will be deterred from seeking knowledge and taking advantage of all the innovative programs our libraries offer.”

Courtesy Photo Caption: Library Director Ed Garcia, leftmost, Schools Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse, and Mayor Allan W. Fung present library cards to promote 'Fresh Start,' an initiative to make sure all students in Cranston have a working library card.